Two-thirds of the way through the MLS regular season, the postseason picture is coming into focus. And the Red Bulls’ picture is this: If they want to reach the playoffs — and anything less for a team that added Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez to Juan Pablo Angel would be an abject failure — they better hold off Toronto for second-place in the Eastern Conference.

That makes today’s game in Toronto (1 p.m., MSG) an important one. The Red Bulls (9-7-4, 31 points) hold a five-point edge on Toronto going in. The difference between a win or a loss is a comfortable eight-point cushion for a guaranteed playoff spot or a slim two-point lead.

“When I look at it, we need to be top two in the East,” coach Hans Backe said. “Time speaks for us. I’m just hopeful we can pick up the points we need to reach the playoffs, because both [Henry and Marquez] will adjust their game in a month or something like that. . . I don’t know the time, but time speaks for us for both players to reach their peak by the playoffs.”

A win would give them a great chance of getting there, with the top two teams in each conference guaranteed postseason berths, followed by the next four in the overall points standings. Columbus (37 points) leads the East, but New York must also focus on third-place Toronto, undefeated this year at home.

“[We need] every game. I know they are right behind is so the focus is more on this game,” Henry said. “Losing or maybe winning can be great for us. But the team I saw the other day at our place, and it’s going to be a good game.”

Henry was referring to their Aug. 14 home tilt when he and Seth Stammler set up Joel Lindpere for the only goal of the game. New York lost 1-0 to Los Angeles last Saturday, but Henry was even more impressed with TFC, which also beat Cruz Azul in Tuesday’s CONCACAF Champions League group opener.

Cruz Azul coach Enrique Meza, whose team has made consecutive Champions League finals, admits his team may have underestimated the Toronto FC. With Toronto 10-0-4 combined at BMO Field in MLS, Canadian Championship and Champions league — losing only a friendly to Bolton — the Red Bulls won’t make the same mistake.

“I know they beat Cruz Azul, which is not an easy task,” Henry said. “But I also know they don’t lose often at home. It’s kind of a fortress over there. They have some good fans. They already showed us at our place. I thought they played better than LA at our place, the only thing is they didn’t [finish] their opportunity and we scored a bit after. It will be a good game.”

The Red Bulls will be fresher and healthier, with midfielder Julian de Guzman suspended and forward Chad Barrett doubtful with a strained right hamstring. And Toronto has struggled with pace, tailor-made for Dane Richards.

But despite dominating possession and creating chances, New York has scored just four goals in its last seven games. And after a stellar debut in Chicago, Marquez played poorly against the Galaxy, giving away possession and committing a turnover that cost the Red Bulls the game.

“They played well [against us]. I know they’re without de Guzman against us, Barrett probably will be out. But they looked good in possession, they’re unbeaten at home. It’s a tough game,” Backe said. “But we’re good enough. We have shown that we’re good enough to win on the road.

“I feel confident. Not that we can go there [guaranteed of] winning. In this league, you never know, it’s so tight. But in the beginning, when we were on the road there was a feeling you never really know what kind of performance we’re going to have. But now I’d say we look solid.”